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Archive for February, 2009

Inflammatory bowel diseases – An introduction

The inflammatory diseases like the ulcerative colitis are characterized by the inflammation and ulceration in the colon. This results in the frequent passage of the stools, often accompanied with blood and mucous. The exact cause of this is still unknown. In this disease, the entire colon may be affected.

The crohn’s disease is also an inflammatory disease which is most common in the west. This disease of the large or small bowel may have a unique case of isolated small bowel involvement or the involvement of the small bowel along with the large bowel.

Diet for the inflammatory bowel diseases

The diet management schemes for the inflammatory disease may be different in various centers and can be bewildering sometimes. The diet for this disease must have a target of achieving 2000 to 2500 kcal per day. The persons suffering from bowel disease have a chance of losing proteins, so the diet provided to them should be a high protein diet. The diet should contain at least 100 g of protein for a day.

The foods that contain fats are normally allowed. The carbohydrates also form a valuable form of energy as they are easily absorbable. Vitamins can be administrated by injection or orally. There are also mineral losses during the period of the disease so, these minerals should also be compensated with the diet or it may lead to fatal consequences.

To prevent dehydration for the patient, a liberal intake of fluids should be given to avoid dehydration. Passage of around 2500 ml of urine indicates that the person is well hydrated. Beverages like coke and other drinks like tea and coffee can also be given at regular intervals. All the spicy foods should be completely avoided. In some patients, the intakes of fish oil that contain eicosapentanoic acid are observed to be good.

The food items those are acceptable for people having the inflammatory bowel disease are bread, chappaties made of wheat, rice and maize, breakfast cereals of wheat, rice, cooked rice, soups, jam, pastry, biscuits, meat of chicken, eggs, all fresh vegetables, beverages and all fresh fruits. The food substances that are not acceptable for them are vegetable salad, nuts, papads, dried fruits and spices.

The following is a sample diet for people who follow the western diet and vegetarian diet. For breakfast, the diet can be fruit juices, cornflakes and poached egg for the western diet and for the vegetarian; it can be fruit juice, flaked rice and white bread. For the lunch, it can be minced beef, mashed potatoes and carrots for the western diet and soup, rice with curd for the vegetarian.

For the dinner, for the western diet, the food stuffs can be grilled fish, French beans and rice pudding. For the vegetarian diet, the food substances can be strained soups, mashed potatoes, buttermilk and ice cream.

A recent research has revealed that if one adopts a healthier living standard, the risk of developing several cancers can be reduced. The researchers have observed that balanced diets, weight control and exercise can act as prevention keys against many cancers.

The research is conducted by 23 experts who studied 12 common cancers along with the relevant data on diet, weight and exercise, to analyze the contribution of these factors in the development of mouth, lung, kidney, gallbladder and some of the other cancers. Findings disclosed by the research, showed how healthier living could have prevented about one third of the most common cancers.

In America, the same improving diet, weight control and exercise would put a stop to 12 most common cancers including stomach, prostate, and pancreas, womb and esophagus tumors. The results complement the study conducted in 2007 which demonstrated the significance of growing and eating factors in cancer development.

“Most of the cancers are preventable”, said researchers. Like other experts, from health departments and U.N Health Organization, they also urged the people to adopt the diets based on vegetables, fruits and whole grains with a lower ratio of dairy products, fats and red meats.

As representatives of low-and middle-income countries, the research team also took the notice of China and Brazil.

Diarrhea and dysentery – An introduction

Diarrhea is a condition in which the weight of the stool exceeds 200 – 250 g/day. It is the abnormal frequency and liquidity of the fecal discharges and there is a passage of the unformed stools. In infants, diarrhea dehydration is one of the main causes for death.

Dysentery is the condition in which diarrhea is accompanied with the passage of blood and mucous. The common reasons for dysentery are the Amebic and bacillary infections of the colon. The stool culturing is the only known cause for dysentery. If the fecal matter is freshly collected and is transferred, then there won’t be any problem or else, it may lead to dysentery.

Diet for diarrhea and dysentery

The oral feeding for diarrhea is the most accurate treatment. Oral Rehydration Therapy at home is one of the best ways to care diarrhea. There are some basic ingredients that should be taken in order to absorb the water. These basic ingredients are sugar, glucose and lactose, amino acids and these are very important for the re absorption of water. These substances also help in the absorption of sodium and potassium.

Water or other fluid substances should be given at regular intervals in order to make sure urination very frequently depending on the age. Foods contain sodium or sodium drug is usually recommended daily. In addition to the above, zinc supplements can also be added. For glucose, starch is a natural food. Rice starch is also good for digestion.

The diet for diarrhea should be planned as follows. Each day, 1500 Kcal is vital and for chronic diarrhea, it is 2500 Kcal. Protein rich food stuffs like, meat, meat, egg and milk products should be regularly consumed. But for some patients, the milk products will not be tolerated, for those patients the milk products should be excluded.

Fats are real enemies for the patients, as it is not absorbed properly and may aggravate diarrhea. Easily digestible food substances like vegetables, fresh fruits and kanji that are rich in carbohydrates can be added to the diet. Water soluble vitamins can be given to manage diarrhea. Water should be always given for the patient to increase the water content.

During diarrhea, the electrolyte balance in the intestine would have been disturbed, so in order to balance the electrolytes, mineral supplements are given. The food substances that are not allowable in the diet during diarrhea are pulses, sweets, salads (vegetables), dried fruits, spices, nuts and butter.

The food substances that are allowed during the period of diarrhea are bread of wheat and rice, cereals made of wheat, cooked rice, vegetables, soup, meat, milk products (only if tolerated), water, beverages, sugar, pastry and fresh fruits.

What is constipation?

Constipation is a phenomenon, which is characterized by infrequent and incomplete evacuation of the stools. It is the disorder of the intestine and is a very commonly occurring disorder. Due to the propulsion of the fecal matter, bowel evacuation occurs. One stool a day is very essential for a healthy person but there are some cases where a person moves on the third day and still remain healthy.

In the western culture, three stools in a week are considered to be healthy and normal. The bowel movement in the stomach depends on the diet. The weight of the stool may vary from person to person depending on the type of diet that the person has consumed.

Diet for constipation

For the management of constipation, diet management is very necessary. The calories and proteins should be taken as per the standard requirements. Fats help a lot in stimulating the flow of the bile and it also helps in lubricating the bowel. Food substances like butter and ghee can be consumed by the persons who are lean as it may beneficial.

Carbohydrates can supply adequate bulk. It can be availed from consuming vegetables and fresh fruits that are rich in cellulose that are non-absorbable. Unrefined cereals that contain bran can also supply bulk. Bananas and dried fruits like dates and apricot can supply bulk in persons who are lean. In some patients food substances that are rich in vitamin B are given to increase the bowel function.

For some semi starved patients, minerals are necessary to prevent constipation. Each day a minimum of ten to twelve glasses of water is necessary. A warm drink in the early morning with empty stomach will help a lot to evacuate the bowel. Fiber diet is very much important. The fiber diet absorbs the water hence increasing the bulk of the stool. The fiber diet also increases propulsion with peristaltic waves and also softens the stool.

The fiber content in the food can be achieved by increasing or adding vegetables and fruits with the diet. Even if these fiber diets do not relieve constipation, extra wheat bran can be added to the diet. The food items that are acceptable for a person with constipation are as follows. Bread, made of wheat, cereals, brown rice, vegetables, salad, pasta, meat, eggs, condiments, pastry, sweets and fresh fruits are the food substances that are considered to be normal.

A glass of warm water or any drink in the early morning should be taken. For the breakfast, stewed figs, corn flakes or chappaties can be consumed. For lunch, cooked vegetables with rice can be consumed. For the dinner chicken, rice or chappaties are acceptable and before going to bed, a cup of milk is preferable.